There Is Pathway To Citizenship!

Today DREAM Action NIU, lobbied in Springfield to support House Bill 3528. This bill will allow undocumented students to be eligible for state aid. Undocumented students in higher education are not allowed to receive federal or state aid due to their immigration status. If this bill is passed undocumented students will then become eligible to apply for state financial aid. This would result in equal opportunities to fund their education as Illinois residents. 

Equal access to financial aid for higher education!

As we spoke with Representatives we discovered some of them were not even aware of the bill and let alone immigration policy. As one Representatives stated, “there is pathway to citizenship, it just needs to be streamlined.” He spoke of his concerns with the bill but that he would not discuss further. It astonishes me that legislators need some educating on current immigration law. As he proposed “we need a 6 MONTH pathway for those already here.” Now, Rep. Cabello you explain exactly how that is going to happen? Just as it was said in the Lost in Detention, "there is no chance of Comprehensive Immigration Reform (CIR) in current political environment."

Society seems to forget that immigration issues affect everyone within our community. As discussed in class various Latino groups  encounter a different experience when migrating to the United States (U.S). We specifficaly talked about Puertorriquenos, Mexicanos, and Cubanos. Mexicans (or undocumented folks) if caught in U.S soil, are detained and later on deported. As seen in the documentary Lost In Detention, their immigration hearings are often times fast tracked and are forced to fight their cases on their own, without legal aid. Puerto Ricans are U.S Citizens, and immigration for them is easier. They have a duo-home and if it does not work out for them in the states that have the option of returning to Puerto Rico. Cubans on the other hand arrived to the U.S as refugees, once they touched U.S land. They received services in order to create a life here, many educated Cubans migrated to the U.S being able to become entrepreneurs and business owners. However, immigrants are still being discriminated based on immigration status, social economic status, and race. There are many issues within the immigration system that must be addressed beginning with the impact that policies have on families and students. 

"They don’t understand how their mother could have been thrown out of the country because of a simple piece of paper. They are American citizens that are going to be productive for this country one day. How can you take away the most important pillar in their life, their mother? I don’t understand." -Antonio Arceo

DREAM Action NIU Members and CLCE 410 Student

From asking and waiting to speak to representatives, to catching Chapa LaVia as she was heading to the elevator, and calling out Representatives while they were on the floor. To communicate the importance of HB3528 and demonstrate DREAM Action NIU presence was overly satisfying. Overall, it was a successful day.

This is a nation of laws but also a nation of immigrants. It is time to ACT NOW!

"This is not a moment...it is a movement"- SomebodyVeryWise